In the last issue we featured a 14-page reference guide of the major grouse species of North America. Over the next several issues I will target some of the common species that taxidermists are likely to receive. Of course, many of these grouse are regional in their distribution, but with the popularity in game bird hunting as strong as ever, taxidermists in any area of North America should not be surprised if one of them finds their counters.

     This feature offers reference of both the greater and lesser prairie chickens. My photo sources offered excellent photography of both subspecies, but the most diverse selection was of the lesser prairie chicken. I would like to note that subspecies are so similar that reference of either will work for both.

     To get the rest of this valuable reference article on greater and lesser prairie chickens, subscribe to Breakthrough, or order Issue 124. Call 800-783-7266 or subscribe online.

     After enjoying the myriad of live reference pictures in Breakthrough’s recent photographic reference articles on the grouse of North America, created and written by publisher Larry Blomquist, this issue seemed to be the perfect venue to create a grouse mount using these marvelous upland game bird reference studies! Using the reference and mounting an actual prairie grouse, good friend and great bird taxidermist Eugene Streekstra took control and parlayed these useful pictures into a beautiful, hand-created greater prairie chicken piece. Eugene had recently traveled to South Dakota and was able to collect several of these magnificent prairie grouse. With his many years of hands-on bird work, he proved to be the perfect candidate to put together Breakthrough’s great reference pictures, with his years of experience and knowledge, to create a fantastic booming and strutting greater prairie chicken mount.

     For the purpose of saving space within this article, the complete skinning, fleshing, and washing process will not be detailed, however, I will begin with how the specimen is treated as the entire assembly process begins.

     To read the rest of this valuable procedure article on mounting a prairie chickens, subscribe to Breakthrough, or order Issue 124. Call 800-783-7266 or subscribe online.

THE 2016 BREAKTHROUGH AWARD WINNERS

Australian Assoc. of Wildlife Artists         Tony Bianco

Canada Taxidermists Association              Ken Noyes

National Taxidermists Association            Tim Gorenchan

New Zealand Taxidermists Assoc.            Ben Carillo

United Kingdom Guild of Taxidermy        Jack Fishwick

United Taxidermists of America               Rodney Schreurs

Arkansas                                               Mickey Bowman

California                                              Ken Walker

Colorado                                               Josh Gustard

Florida                                                 Doug Montgomery